Cubs vs. Pirates Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 5/16/2022

An NL Central matchup Monday features the fourth-place Chicago Cubs (13-20) hosting the third-place Pittsburgh Pirates (15-19). The Cubs (-159) are listed as favorites for the game, which gets underway at 7:40 PM ET from Wrigley Field. Chicago’s Wade Miley and Pittsburgh’s Dillon Peters have been named the starters for this contest.

Cubs vs. Pirates Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Cubs vs. Pirates

Our computer pick: Pittsburgh Pirates (+136) and Over (8.5)

Cubs vs. Pirates Game Info

• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Wade Miley
• Pittsburgh Pirates probable starting pitcher: Dillon Peters
• Game Day: Monday, May 16, 2022
• Game Time: 7:40 PM ET
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Stadium: Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Pitching Matchup

Cubs Starter Wade Miley

• The Cubs will look to Miley (0-0) in his second start of the season.
• His last appearance came on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, when the lefty went 3 2/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs while allowing five hits.
• In one games this season, he has put up a 9.00 ERA and averages 3.0 strikeouts per nine innings while opposing batters are hitting .385 against him.
• The opposing Pirates offense has the 21st-ranked slugging percentage (.355) and ranks 23rd in MLB play with 27 home runs. It has a collective .228 batting average, and is 23rd in MLB with 252 total hits and 26th in MLB action scoring 119 runs.

Pirates Starter Dillon Peters

• Peters (3-1) will take the mound for the Pirates, his fourth start of the season.
• The left-hander’s last appearance was on Wednesday, when he threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers while allowing two hits.
• The 29-year-old has an ERA of 1.83 and 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .082 in 10 games this season.
• The Cubs have scored 130 runs this season, which ranks 21st in MLB. They have 250 hits, 24th in baseball, with 25 home runs (25th in the league).
• This season, the left-hander has pitched against the Cubs in three games, and they have gone 1-for-15 over 5 1/3 innings.

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• The Cubs have entered the game as favorites six times this season and won twice.
• This season, Chicago has won one of its three games when favored by at least -159 on the moneyline.
• Sportsbooks have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Cubs have a 61.4% chance to win.
• Chicago and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 15 of their 33 opportunities.
• In 33 games with a spread this season, the Cubs are 18-15-0 ATS.

Pirates Betting Picks & Insights

• The Pirates have been victorious in 11, or 42.3%, of the 26 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
• Pittsburgh has a mark of 6-12 in contests where bookmakers favor them by +136 or worse on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Pirates have a 42.4% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
• Contests with Pittsburgh have gone over the total set by bookmakers in 14 of 34 chances this season.
• The Pirates are 17-17-0 against the spread in their 34 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• Willson Contreras’ .277 average leads the Cubs this year. His resume also includes four homers and driven in 10 RBI.
• In all of Major League Baseball, Contreras ranks 62nd in home runs and 168th in RBI.
• Ian Happ is hitting .260 with four doubles, two home runs and 20 walks.
• Happ ranks 153rd in homers and 76th in RBI in the majors.
• Seiya Suzuki is batting .257 with eight doubles, a triple, four home runs and 17 walks.
• Suzuki has at least one base hit in four straight games. In his last five games he is batting .286 with two doubles, two walks and an RBI.
• Patrick Wisdom’s six home runs and 17 runs batted in both lead his team.

Pirates Leaders & Batting Stats

• Ben Gamel has driven in a team-leading 15 runs batted in.
• In all of the majors, Gamel is 100th in homers and 76th in RBI.
• Daniel Vogelbach has shown his power as he paces his team with six home runs.
• Vogelbach ranks 29th among all hitters in MLB in homers, and 113th in RBI.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes paces the Pirates’ lineup with a .301 batting average.
• Bryan Reynolds is batting .209 with three doubles, a triple, four home runs and 16 walks.

Betting Tips for Cubs vs. Pirates

We have the Pirates on the moneyline at +136 on the moneyline as our best bet in this contest after taking a look at all of the key trends and statistics for this matchup. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8.5 runs.